Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Jonathan O’Brien TD has said that the position of Garda Commissioner Noirin O’Sullivan is untenable.

Commenting as Sinn Féin published a motion of no confidence in the Commissioner, Deputy O’Brien said;

Jonathan O’Brien TD

“It is clear public confidence in An Garda Siochana would be further eroded by Noirin O’Sullivan remaining as Garda Commissioner. Her position has become untenable. The Government should now use the power provided to it, under the 2005 Garda Siochana Act, to remove her from office.

“The Garda Commissioner has failed to adequately explain the cause of the Garda errors which led to the wrongful conviction of 14,700 people for motoring offences and to 937,000 breath tests being wrongly recorded on the Pulse system.

“We are also mindful of the fact that the Charleton Tribunal is investigating serious allegations made in a protected disclosure concerning the actions of the Commissioner.

“The people of this state are entitled to a standard of policing in which accountability is central to the ethos of the service. This must be achieved on the basis of fairness, impartially and objectivity. This standard does not exist presently. The necessary public confidence in Garda management does not exist at this time.

“Sinn Féin is calling on the government to remove the Garda Commissioner as it is clearly in the best interests of an Garda Siochana and the future of policing and justice in this state.”